The show kept a largely solid audience over 30 minutes on BBC Two on Thursday peaking at 4.8m or 24% after the first 10 minutes.
The average audience for the first episode was 4.6m, making it the most-watched show in the 9pm slot.
The comedy features Gervais as a struggling film extra Andy Millman, opposite a host of A-list celebs including 'Meet the Parents' 'Starsky and Hutch' actor Ben Stiller who appeared in the first episode.
Upcoming episodes will see 'Pulp Fiction''s Samuel L Jackson, 'Titanic' actress Kate Winslet and 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' actor Patrick Stewart.
When 'The Office' first aired on BBC Two it attracted an average of 1.8m viewers and despite gaining critical acclaim the opening night of the second series could only muster 4.2m.
ITV's new six-part docudrama 'Survivors' was Gervais' closest rival with 4.2m or 21% between 9pm and 10pm.
Channel 4's 'Dispatches' documentary on Beslan had 1m or 5% while Five's 'Build a New Home in the Country' garnered 1.9m or 9%.
A second series of 'Extras' is already planned, with famous names including director Steven Spielberg and singer Bruce Springsteen tipped to appear.
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